The Balloon Man (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 4

Louis rubbed a hand over his face, blinking a few times as his eyes felt like they were burning from staring at the computer too long. And of course he's been writing emails all day and since he got home, going over contracts and construction plans. He was ready to bang his head against his desk.

He sipped at his whiskey, letting out a slow breath after he swallowed and adjusted his glasses. Just as Louis was about to start typing again though he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in."

It slowly creaked open, Elisa popping her head in and offering him a small smile, "have a minute?"

"No," Louis chuckled, "for you though of course, c'mon," he waved her in.

Elisa fully stepped in, making her way to one of the chairs across his desk and taking a seat, "wanted to get you alone for a second with Arabella in bed," she said, seeing him raise his eyebrows at her, "how was last night?"

Louis kept his eyes on her for a moment, after last night, after how things have been going with Harry he knew he could tell her. "It was uhm, it was really great," he tried to fight off his grin.

"Sounded like you were having fun. I could hear you two when I went downstairs for water."

"What?" Louis looked at her wide eyed, his heart dropping into his stomach.

"You were laughing," Elisa furrowed her eyebrows at seeing his face going pale, "I haven't heard you laugh like that in... I don't think ever," she chuckled quietly to herself.

"Oh," Louis said, feeling his cheeks heat up as he shifted in his seat.

"What's his name?"

Even at the simple thought of him Louis felt his stress slowly washing away, a warm smile coming over him, "Harry... Harry Styles."

Elisa's own grin appeared at seeing his expression, "where'd you meet him? He's not someone who works for you right?"

"No," Louis laughed as he shook his head, never mixing business with pleasure, that was a recipe for disaster, "I uh... Well Arabella and I know him from the park... He's the balloon man."

Elisa raised her eyebrows at him, "really?" she asked, a bit surprised.

"Yeah, well you know-" Louis cleared his throat, trying to figure out what he wanted to say.

"You don't have to explain, Louis," Elisa teased him, "I'm just... I'm happy for you," she said softly, "I know it's been a while since you've had someone to love."

"Love is a heavy word," Louis muttered, unable to meet her eyes.

"But you're opening yourself up to it," Elisa pointed out, making him let out a small huff, "have you talked to him about Arabella or what happened?"

Louis bit his lip, looking down to his hands in his lap as he shook his head, "I only told him about mom... Didn't go into details."

"And Ned?"

Just at his name Louis swallowed thickly, unable to move as he said a quiet "I couldn't," and released a frustrated breath, "Harry saw the picture of him with Arabella and was asking questions about him and I just- I couldn't-," Louis rubbed his hands over his face, trying to even his breathing.

Elisa looked at him softly, getting up from her seat and walking around the desk to rub his back, "grieving takes time Louis, you and I both know that," she said gently, and as soon as she did she felt his shoulder shaking, "you can't just forget what you've been through."

Louis quickly shook his head, begging the pressure in his eyes to go away, "I want to tell Harry, I want to talk about him, but I can't."

"You'll get there," Elisa said quietly, "you already told him about your mom and that's one step, yeah?"